Christmas Spirit

If I let myself, I would happily shirk all of my responsibilities and spend every last minute of my day in the studio. Time passes with a different cadence between these walls. I get lost in a project and before I know it hours have passed and I never accomplish as much as I think I will. That's okay. Maybe even preferred as it lends itself to having an excuse to visit again soon. I am  also drawn more and more to the peace I find here. I find myself wanting to go to bed early so that I can awake early and hurry back to my space. 

Fortunately, lately I have had plenty of reasons to squirrel away stolen moments here. My favorite of which, was putting together an advent for my best friend Melissa. You may recall seeing her pop up in my blog before since almost the beginning of times. We met at an art retreat and became immediate friends sharing a love of creativity among many others. 

This year, anticipating that Christmas could be a rather bleak affair, and that not only would my much anticipated return to hosting a Christmas crafting party have to be postponed, and that we wouldn't even be able to see each other, we were inspired to exchange a 12 day advent leading up to Christmas with a handmade gift to open on Christmas day. I've loved having something fun to work on and anticipate.

It was one of the better decisions I've made this year. It has been such a bright spot for me and a joy to focus on. It jump started my creativity in a way that I desperately needed. I'd say that and not spending much time reading the news are responsible for a more well balanced mental state than in quarantine past. 

One of my favorite parts was gathering up bits around the studio that fit my vision for packaging the advent. I wish I had finished it earlier so I could've had it sitting around looking beautiful and making me happy for awhile.

It was a little bittersweet shipping it off but I knew if anybody would enjoy it as much as I did, it would be Melissa. We're like peas and carrots. In fact, last time I was visiting her, while out shopping, a lady asked if we were sisters. That is so funny to me because we look zero alike. I think it had a lot more to do with how we behave when we're together which is very much like people who have the total comfort level of sisterhood. ;)

                                                                                                                                                                           

I gently packaged everything up, wishing I could deliver it in person but hoping that she could at least feel the love that went into that box and looking forward to the day when we will again be together creating, talking, laughing (always laughing), shopping, getting lost on an adventure or just sitting quietly next to each other watching cheesy movies in our pajamas and not needing to say a word.

And lucky for me, shortly after sending it off, her amazing advent arrived and has been thrilling me to pieces for the last three mornings!

Can you even imagine receiving anything so beautiful in the mail? I was gobsmacked!